Instrumental Division Faculty
Dr. James J. Smisek, Director of BandsGrant Dalton is the Instructor of Percussion Studies at Samford University where he directs the Samford Percussion Ensemble and Samford Steel, the university's steel drum band. He is also the Assistant Athletic Band Director and teaches several academic courses. He is an extra percussionist with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, and he is the percussionist for the Birmingham Broadway Series and Broadway Across America. Before moving to Alabama he regularly performed with the Springfield (OH) Symphony, the Westerville (OH) Symphony, and the Dayton Philharmonic. He is a graduate of Lipscomb University, where he earned the degree Bachelor of Science in Instrumental Music Education, and of The Ohio State University, where he earned the degrees Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in percussion performance. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, the College Music Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda. He is the vice-president of the Alabama chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, and regularly hosts the Alabama Day of Percussion. Dr. Dalton is also an endorser of Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets. His wife, Jennifer, is an English teacher at Vestavia Hills High School, and they have one son, Beckett. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his family and golfing.
Dr. Chip Crotts, Associate Professor of Trumpet at Samford University, has been an on-call trumpet artist for the Disney Company and has performed and recorded throughout the US and Europe. A GRAMMY nominated artist, Crotts has also toured and performed with artists such as Boston Brass, Rhythm and Brass, Ray Charles, The Manhattan Transfer, Natalie Cole and Maynard Ferguson. Chip is in frequent demand as a freelance musician throughout the United States and is a first call player for many national touring companies and artists. As a clinician and educator, he has worked with many high school and college groups throughout Texas and the Southeast. He has been an adjudicator for Bands of America, Drum Corps International and has judged numerous jazz festivals, solo and marching competitions. Chip is also very active in the drum corps community, where he marched with the Phantom Regiment and Blue Devils and has taught Spirit and two-time DCI World Champion, Phantom Regiment. Dr. Crotts is currently beginning his 1st season on the brass staff of the 13-time DCI World Champion, The Blue Devils. He received his Bachelor of Music Business Degree from East Carolina University and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Penn State University. Chip completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance and Jazz Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. His primary teachers have included Ray Crisara, Ray Sasaki, John Daniel, Tom Huener and John Almeida. Chip has also performed in masterclasses and studied privately with Roger Ingram, Armando Ghitalla, Doc Severinsen and Boyde Hood. Chip currently performs with groups such as the Alabama Symphony, Huntsville Symphony, Studio 5 Trumpet Ensemble, SuperJazz Big Band and the Night Flight Big Band. He is also an Associate Member of The Tuscaloosa Horns, with whom he performs regularly with artists such as the Temptations, Four Tops, OJs, Frankie Valli and Mary Wilson and the Supremes. Previously, Dr. Crotts served on the faculty of Jacksonville State University. Chip Crotts is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
